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Lesbos is the third largest Greek island, located in the northeastern Aegean Sea, separated from Turkey by the narrow Mytilini Strait. Abundant pottery finds and the worship of Cybele suggest cultural continuity of the population from Neolithic times. Greek emigrants, mainly from Thessaly, arrived probably beginning in the Late Bronze Age. When Cyrus defeated Croesus in 546 B.C. the island became subject to Persia, until the Persians were defeated by the Greeks at the Battle of Salamis in 480 B.C. The island was governed by an oligarchy in archaic times, followed by quasi-democracy in classical times. For a short period it was a member of the Athenian confederacy, its apostasy from which is described in a stirring chapter of Thucydides' history of the Peloponnesian War. In Hellenistic times, the island belonged to various successor kingdoms until 79 B.C., when it passed into Roman hands. The most powerful cities were Mytilene and Methymna. In addition to the local coins bearing the names of the various Lesbian cities, there were two important coinages, one in billon and another in electrum, both of which doubtless had a general circulation throughout the island. The word lesbian is derived from the name of the island, owing to the poems of the 6th-century B.C. poet Sappho, who was born on Lesbos and who wrote with powerful emotional content directed toward other women.

Lesbos, c. 550 - 480 B.C.

Lesbos, the third largest Greek island, in the NE Aegean Sea, is separated from Turkey by the narrow Mytilini Strait. Greek emigrants probably started arriving in the Late Bronze Age. When Cyrus defeated Croesus in 546 B.C. the island became subject to Persia, until the Persians were defeated by the Greeks at the Battle of Salamis in 480 B.C. The most powerful cities were Mytilene and Methymna. In addition to the local coins bearing the names of the various Lesbian cities, there were two important coinages, one in billon and another in electrum, both of which circulated throughout the island.GA88080. Billon 1/3 stater, cf. SNGvA 7714 (4.08g); HGC 6 1083 (R2, c. 1.39g); Babylon I 601 (1.25g); BMC Troas p. 155, 56 (0.9g); SNG Cop -; SNG München -; Rosen -, aVF, edge splits, minor flan flaws, earthen deposits, weight 2.221 g, maximum diameter 13.2 mm, uncertain Koinon mint, c. 550 - 480 B.C.; obverseHead of Apollo left, wearing tainia; reverse quadripartite incuse square; an unpublished denomination of a very rare series; $150.00 (€127.50)

Lesbos, the third largest Greek island, in the NE Aegean Sea, is separated from Turkey by the narrow Mytilini Strait. Greek emigrants probably started arriving in the Late Bronze Age. When Cyrus defeated Croesus in 546 B.C. the island became subject to Persia, until the Persians were defeated by the Greeks at the Battle of Salamis in 480 B.C. The most powerful cities were Mytilene and Methymna. In addition to the local coins bearing the names of the various Lesbian cities, there were two important coinages, one in billon and another in electrum, both of which circulated throughout the island.GA88107. Billon 1/24 stater, BMC Troas p. 155, 57; cf. HGC 6 1091 (R2, 1/16 stater); SNG Cop -; SNGvA -; SNG München -; Rosen -, F, rough, porous, edge cracks, weight 0.471 g, maximum diameter 7.2 mm, uncertain Koinon mint, c. 550 - 480 B.C.; obverseHead of Apollo left, wearing tainia; reverse quadripartite incuse square; very rare; $75.00 (€63.75)